WHAT ARE THE STANDARD Seminole Tribe of Florida PROTECTION MEASURES THAT ARE Environmental Resource REQUIRED? Management Department

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is required by the Federal Endangered Species Act to abide by standard measures adopted to protect this endangered mammal: Florida Panther Puma concolor coryi 1. A Florida panther protection/education plan has been developed which requires WHO DO YOU CONTACT IF YOU training for all construction crews. SEE A PANTHER ON THE

2. A qualified observer/biologist will be RESERVATION? on- site for notification by construction personnel if a potential Florida panther Contact your direct supervisor is sighted. You may also contact:: 3. If a Florida panther is seen on the construction site, all activity must cease Seminole Tribe of Florida’s immediately, the qualified observer must be notified, and the cat allowed to Wildlife Biologist move away from any dangerous area on Phone: 863-902-3249 x13411 its own. Cell: 954-410-7073

Protecting Tribal Resources WHAT IS A Scratches — Panthers hone their claws by WHERE DO FLORIDA PANTHERS scratching on logs or trees. These scratches FLORIDA PANTHER? OCCUR? are probably not a form of territory marking or communication to other panthers, but they Once the panther ranged throughout do alert humans to the presence of panthers. Florida as well as throughout much of the southeastern United States from Louisiana Scrapes — piles of soil, leaves, or pine nee- north and east to Tennessee and the dles with urine or feces on top. The panther Atlantic. Today only about 80-100 adult makes a scrape by flicking its hind legs back- panthers remain in national and state parks ward, leaving two parallel streaks on the and nearby private lands in southwest Flori- ground surface. Scrapes are between 10 and da. They occur locally throughout the Big 20 cm long and within them you can often Cypress area including the tracks near the scrapes. Big Cypress Seminole Reservation.

Panthers are known by many names throughout the country including HOW CAN YOU IDENTIFY A FLORIDA WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU mountain lions, pumas, and cougars. PANTHER? SEE A FLORIDA PANTHER?

The Florida panther is one of the most Panthers are solitary, elusive animals and imperiled mammals in the United are rarely observed in the wild. Encounters States. It has been federally listed as are unlikely, however, if you do encounter a endangered since 1973 under the panther avoid all contact with it. If you are Endangered Species Act. It is also driving a vehicle or heavy equipment, stop, protected under the Wildlife Code of FL, cease operation and allow the cat to pass. and the FL Panther Act of 1978. Habitat Do not harm or harass it in any way. Please loss and fragmentation are contact your supervisor or the number at the severe threats to the panther in Florida. back of this pamphlet and report the location and circumstances. WHAT SIGNS CAN HELP YOU Adults are a uniform tawny color with lighter IDENTIFY A FLORIDA PANTHER ? fur on their lower chests, belly, and inner legs. Shades of individual may vary from Tracks —The typical panther track is grayish to reddish to yellowish. This uniform the imprint of four un-clawed toes color conceals them effectively in a variety around a 3-lobed heel pad. of habitats.

Kittens are spotted, which helps to camou- flage them in the shadows of their den. These spots fade as they approach maturity at the end of their first year.